Porter Martone to Captain Team CHL at USA Prospects Challenge
BRAMPTON, ON – The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) has unveiled the leadership group for Team CHL ahead of the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge, presented by Kubota Canada. Brampton Steelheads forward Porter Martone will wear the captain’s “C,” with alternate captains Blake Fiddler (Edmonton Oil Kings), Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters), and Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats) supporting him in the two-game series.
The highly anticipated event pits the top 22 CHL prospects from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) against the U.S. National Under-18 Team. The games will take place on November 26 at Canada Life Place in London and November 27 at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, airing live on TSN, RDS, and NHL Network.
Martone, who captains the Brampton Steelheads in his second season in the OHL, is enjoying a stellar start to the 2024-25 season. The 18-year-old from Peterborough, Ont., has tallied 16 goals and 32 points in just 16 games, ranking second in OHL scoring. Martone’s leadership extends beyond league play; he captained Team Canada to gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he broke Connor Bedard’s career scoring record at the tournament with 23 points.
©️ Porter Martone (@OHLSteelheads)
🅰️ Caleb Desnoyers (@monctonwildcats)
🅰️ Blake Fiddler (@EdmOilKings)
🅰️ Matthew Schaefer (@ErieOtters)Meet Team CHL’s leadership group for the #CHLUSAProspectsChallenge presented by @KubotaCanadaLtd! 🙌🏻
📰 https://t.co/sze0sJIxuN pic.twitter.com/X7t4M2TDPs
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) November 14, 2024
Joining Martone in the leadership group are three standout players:
- Matthew Schaefer: A rising star for the Erie Otters, Schaefer has notched 11 points in nine games this season. The 17-year-old from Stoney Creek, Ont., was the first overall pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection and a key contributor to Canada’s gold-medal wins at the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge and 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship.
- Caleb Desnoyers: The Moncton Wildcats forward has registered 12 goals and 25 points in 15 games this season, helping his team secure the No. 1 spot in the QMJHL rankings. A former first-overall pick in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft, Desnoyers has been instrumental in Canada’s gold-medal victories on the international stage.
- Blake Fiddler: A WHL standout for the Edmonton Oil Kings, Fiddler leads his team’s blueline with three goals in 18 games this season. The Texas native has previously captained Team USA at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and comes from hockey royalty as the son of NHL veteran Vernon Fiddler.
This year’s CHL USA Prospects Challenge is expected to showcase exceptional talent, with 14 Team CHL players identified as potential first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft. The series offers a golden opportunity for players to impress hundreds of scouts and elevate their draft stock.
Tickets for the games are available at the box office and online. Fans won’t want to miss this premier display of emerging hockey talent.
